University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

University Professors Play a Pivotal Role in Societal Resilience

The first symposium of university professors and elites for the year 1405 was held in the presence of the honorable Head of the University’s Leadership Institution Office, the University Chancellor, and vice-chancellors, with the enthusiastic participation of esteemed faculty members.

According to a report by the Public Relations Office of the University’s Leadership Institution, the symposium was held under the theme The Third Sacred Defense: The Role of University Professors in Societal Resilience. The keynote speakers were Dr. Hamid Poursharifi, a faculty member of the Clinical Psychology Department at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Hojatoleslam Seyyed Vahid Motamedi, Head of the Shemiranat Islamic Propaganda Office and Professor in the Department of Islamic Studies.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Poursharifi delivered a presentation titled Resilient Lessons of War. He stated: Focusing on resilient lessons does not imply ignoring issues such as trauma, war, the need for a positive outlook during crises, or overlooking pain and suffering. Every individual’s experience and perception of the resilient lessons learned from war are unique. We must learn these lessons in our daily lives, as university professors play a crucial role in fostering societal resilience.

Stating that no hardship is permanent, he shared practical insights and presented seven-fold resilient lessons of war, noting that the capacity for resilience is strengthened throughout life, particularly during times of crisis.

In another segment of the meeting, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Vahid Motamedi addressed the themes of war and resilience from a religious perspective. He remarked: The Lord of the Worlds is the Provider of all existence. Rububiyyah (Divine Providence/Lordship) means the governance of the entire universe. This concept is the most significant distinction between the Islamic school of thought and other ideologies, especially Western ones. The root of today's conflict lies in the claim of the global hegemony that they are the managers of the world. While they may accept God's role as Creator, they do not accept His Rububiyyah. In contrast, our belief is that the management of the world is under the guidance and plan of Almighty God; if we fulfill our duties, the world remains under the supervision and management of the Lord of the Worlds.

Citing religious traditions, he added: If a believer lives according to the divine path, they will find goodness within their hearts, regardless of any calamity that befalls them.

Hojatoleslam Motamedi shared the personal account of his wife’s martyrdom—she was martyred during public gatherings due to shrapnel from Zionist regime bombs—and detailed how the martyr and her family demonstrated resilience and coped with the tragedy.

 

Quoting the Holy Quranic verse: And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, he highlighted the life and historical impact of the martyr, while praising her moral virtues and courageous life.

The symposium concluded with a ceremony to honor Dr. Siamak Tahmasbi and the introduction of Dr. Seyyed Farhad Tabatabaei Qomsheh as the new Secretary of the University Professors and Elites Symposium.